A few other riders gave me a gentle nudge that I'd neglected to blog about the fact that I have a new book out.
Okay, part of it is that I was out of the country. This works really well, by the way - very difficult to check your amazon numbers hourly if you're on the other side of the world! But a good chunk of it is I generally try pretty hard to forget I've got a new book out.
This is book number fourteen, and I still get really, really nervous. If I go to a bookstore and there are lots of books there, then I panic about the fact that they're not selling. If there aren't many, I mope because there aren't any out there. If I'm expecting a review, I get that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. (Though I do get over a less-than-stellar one a whole lot faster than I used to.)
I've managed to grow out of a lot of nerves. I rarely get nervous meeting new people anymore; I almost never freak out about what I look like; and generally don't worry too much about what other people think about me. (Age has made me finally realize that people are too worried about themselves to really think all that much about you!)
But a new book sends me back to fourteen in a heartbeat. Exciting, but not terribly pleasant.
How about you? What nerves haven't you grown out of?
Oh, yeah, the new book . . . THE PAPER MARRIAGE. It's about a woman who had her whole life working perfectly, until fate dealt her a really nasty blow. She'd been frozen in place for twelve years, and the book begins when her life starts up again.
Susie
6 comments:
Susie,
Congratulations on the new book! That's so exciting! Unfortunately, I think I've grown into nerves, not out of.
Sounds like a really interesting story!
I absolutely LOVED that book! While reading it, I growled or hissed when someone needed me to do something that forced me to put it down. It was very, very good!!! Fabulous!
Suz--
So good to hear about the new book! Sounds interesting!
And as for nerves. . . hmmm. . . I've mostly grown out of my nerves. Public speaking, meeting publishing biggies, dinners in high places. . . not much shakes me these days. But yes, waiting for pronouncements from editors can still do it. . . occasionally. Dry mouth and all.
My sympathies on watching your literary babies take their first steps. Isn't a writer alive who hasn't had some of those feelings! It's pub weeks that I HATE going into bookstores. Worry, worry, worry. And all for nothing, since by that time, what is going to be already is.
Chalk it up to the Sally Fields Syndrome: "Do they really love me? Really, really love me?"
I'm nervous about conference this year. Being a RITA finalist is cool, but I'll be a bundle of nerves in San Fran the night of the awards.
Oh, and the book's on the top of my TBR pile, Susie!
Marissa, I love you! Thank you so much for stopping by to say that.
Betina, I can't imagine that you ever WERE afraid of public speaking. You're such a natural.
Oh, Helen, you must just enjoy it! It is so cool to final, especially two times.
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